Category Archives: Music

Really it has only been 7 years, right, but it has felt like a VERY long time since we’ve heard anything from Snow Patrol. So last week when they released Wildness it was a pretty big deal even though we heard their first single in March, right around the time of my birthday mind you and it’s called “Don’t Give In” which was quite timely.

The track “Heal” sounds exactly very Snow Patrol. The vocals are the same throughout, I mean Gary Lightbody has a distinct voice, in my opinion. The album is completely them, almost entirely. Gary Lightbody wrote all the lyrics and all music composed by Snow Patrol and their producer Jacknife Lee, except for one song which is the final song on the album, titled “Life and Death.”

Personally, I think mid-album is a bit peppier than I am used to from Snow Patrol, like “A Dark Switch,” again vocals sound very Snow Patrol but the music reminds me of something a little different, maybe this is influence of their new band mate Johnny McDaid? It’s just different than other songs on the album, give it a listen, I linked the YouTube to the track title in this paragraph. Equally awesome, but also very different than the norm for Snow Patrol is the track “Wild Horses.”

Anyway, I always like to share my favorite tracks and I’m really digging, “A Youth Written in Fire.” It actually has a little Sting/Police vibe to it. It’s a hard song, I mean lyrically, it hits me deep. I suppose that’s just where I am in life right now. Of course that would make it speak to me, ya know?

Remember the first time that we kissedIt felt like a planet formingBut we were just novices at thisIt felt like an ancient wisdomThere was lightning then and thoseSongs were hymns of trueNo wonder I still think so much about you

Also, what’s going on with all the covers? R.E.M., Oasis, Pixies and Smashing Pumpkins. And then the whole Africa craziness?

Yes, Weezer has covered Toto’s “Africa” song. This is after covering the song Rosanna, which they did as kind of a snarky way of responding to a Twitter “ask” for them to cover Africa. Well now we have TWO Toto covers from Weezer, so thank you to the Twittersphere for making that happen. Now don’t get me wrong, I love Toto and the original will always be best, but this is Weezer, they really did this, they gave into the fandom and blew up social media. The Africa video is now trending on YouTube in the top 25 spots, and in just three days, (as of this moment 11:18 a.m.) it has 2,757,893 views. Holy mackenzie!

By the way, for those interested, they’ll be in the Philly/Jersey area on Saturday, July 21, 2018 with the Pixies and Sleigh Bells.

So, how did it all happen, who is this Twitter fan?

Well, months ago a Twitter account—@WeezerAfrica, who, according to Noisey, is actually a 14-year-old teen named Mary—began trolling the band, begging them to cover Toto’s balmy ‘80s single “Africa.” I suppose this person figured Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo had been covering other artists while playing solo this Spring, but I wonder why they went for one song in particular.

And then, to top it all off, Toto responded with approval!

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from youThere’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever doI bless the rains down in AfricaGonna take some time to do the things we never had

You can tell that Justin Timberlake was an inspiration for Shawn Mendes’s new self-titled album which released on May 25, 2018 via Island Records. I love me some JT and I love Shawn Mendes, which means this entire album, I mean seriously THE ENTIRE album is amazing. Pretty sure it’ll be on repeat for awhile.

If you haven’t given it a listen please do. Ed Sheeran co-wrote one of the songs, “Fallin’ All in You.” The track “Like To Be You,” features the amazing Julia Michaels! The song “Lost in Japan” begins with gorgeous piano, reminds me of something you’d hear at a swaggy restaurant back in the 40s, but it quickly turns into a pop track, with a soul vibe. While I sincerely love every song on this album, one of my instant favorites is the one co-written by Ed Sheeran. There’s a track which has a very Prince-esque vibe and it’s great, too. It’s called “Particular Taste.” Mmmm and the song “Why” reminds me of Stevie Nicks’ song “Landslide.” You’ll have to let me know what you think.

Oh who are we kidding, is it not super obvious that I simply cannot pick on track to love!?

The awesome thing about Mendes is that he learned how to play guitar by watching videos online. Then he gained a following in 2013 by uploading himself singing on Vine. He truly has made his career what it is and it all started by uploading videos to a free mobile app after learning how to play guitar online. Can we just let that sick in for a moment?

Fast forward to 2018, Mendes is now included on Time’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. AND when the Queen of England turned 92-years-old he performed at her birthday party, seriously come on, how amazing is that? Plus he’s 19, yes that’s right, 19-years-old, three albums under his belt and millions of fans.

Be yours, be my dear /So close with you on my lips /Touch noses, feeling your breath /Push your heart and pull away, yeah / Be my summer in a winter day love / I can’t see one thing wrong

I think I’ve written about Greg Laswell before… anyway, his song “Comes and Goes (In Waves)” just came up in my playlist while I’m working but not working because it’s almost lunch time and we’re preparing for snow and the kids are being dismissed early so my brain is naturally going a mile-a-minute which means TURN UP THE RADIO!

This is for the ones who standFor the ones who try againFor the ones who need a handFor the ones that think they can

It comes in wavesI,Am only led to wonder why

This isn’t my favorite song, but it’s fitting right now I think. Even though this album came out in 2008, and this particular song did very well, in part, because it ran in a couple popular shows you might know… Grey’s Anatomy and True Blood.

But come on Greg, where are you? I mean in 2013 you released, I was Going to be an Astronaut, but it was an album of remakes, it was your sixth studio album and it was remakes. And then last year your seventh album released and I hate to admit I didn’t hear much about it… Everyone Thinks I Dodged A Bullet. Sadly, this released a little after your split with Ingrid Michaelson… maybe it’s related, I don’t know, I myself am not one to be able to speak of love and relationships or what constitutes as dodging or not dodging a bullet.

That aside, I looked it up today and so back to the music talk.

Ohhhh Greg, Everyone Thinks I Dodged A Bullet, is one of the saddest albums I’ve ever listened to, seriously not one anyone feeling emotional should spend time listening to, so I wish I hadn’t. That being said, when music can make you feel something, it’s good.

The lyrics above are from track #6 which is called “I’m Not the Same Man” and it is heartache in music form. I think this album was likely very painful for him to make. Greg Laswell fans, it’s brooding, introspective music, with a raw depth of sadness that those who have felt before will be able to resonate with instantly.

The Well Pennies are a folk pop duo consisting of husband and wife team Bryan & Sarah Vanderpool.

And I very much enjoy the above song entitled, “Ooh la la.”

Right now there’s all types of chaos and sadness happening in the world and in my personal life. This song inspires hope and I appreciate that, which is why I’m playing it on repeat AND sharing it on the blog. Enjoy!

No, it’s not a new song, but it IS new to my current playlist on repeat in the office.

And I would like to thank Google for their “Pumpkin State of Mind” playlist. It is A-MAZ-ING! And many thanks to indie folk-rock band Lord Huron and past band member Brett Farkas and current band member Ben Schneider for writing the song you can listen to below. It’s so good.

Where, could that girl have gone
Where, I’ve wandered far
Where, could that girl have gone
She left no trail but I cannot fail
I will find her
She lit a fire, but now she’s in my every thought

..

So now that you’ve listened, you might be wondering why it sounds familiar. Well, it’s similar in sound to their song “The Night We Met” which had air time in an episode of 13 Reasons Why during a dance scene with Clay and Hannah. Which is so sad :(